Philanthropy and Technology: Breaking The Cycle of Homelessness

In January 2014, 578,424 people were homeless on a given night. Most (69 %) were staying in residential programs for homeless people, and the rest (31 %) were found in unsheltered locations. (Source: The 2014 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress)

“The vast majority, 85 percent, of the nation’s estimated 580,000 homeless are of the temporary variety, mainly men but also women and whole families who spend relatively short periods of time sleeping in shelters or cars, then get their lives together and, despite an economy increasingly stacked against them, find a place to live, somehow.” (Scott Carrier)

Most Compass families are struggling to get on their feet — working, going to school and caring for their children. It is not easy under the best of circumstances, but a home furnished with basic necessities helps make that transition more successful. Through our Making it Home program, Compass Family Services​ are able to help families furnish their permanent houses with furniture donated from the community. But Compass still needs help making turning their houses into homes.

The way that people donate is changing dramatically. Technology facilitates philanthropy, enabling services become more accessible to all. Technology is collapsing the physical barriers between charities and donors. There is disconnect between donors and recipients. $358B is donated, but even more is needed. Сharities are always feeling under enormous financial pressure. Donors pressure charities to be more efficient with their money. Gooddler is disrupting a market of in-kind donations and creating a world where consumers are better positioned to directly help the causes they support, retailers are able to increase efficiencies which will ultimately save them money and create profitability, and help is delivered to those in need on a scale never reached before.

Gooddler partners with local retailers to provide not only an efficient way to deliver goods, but to help local economies in the process.

Gooddler allows civic and charitable organizations to increase their donor base by allowing individuals to contribute specifically requested goods which are delivered directly to the intended recipients when needed, as needed. This ability to reach out to a wider audience, capturing the attention of those people who don’t trust in monetary donations and would like to see a direct impact from their giving is especially important for organizations that provide humanitarian and disaster relief efforts, as many of them have to deal with an issue of public mistrust.

This Compass wishlist at Gooddler platform features bedroom, bathroom and kitchen items that will help Compass clients start their new life out on the right foot.

Compass Wishlist on Gooddler platform: http://gooddler.com/Wishlist/10057

Compass Family Services helps homeless families and families at imminent risk for homelessness to achieve housing stability, family well-being, and self-sufficiency. Compass seven programs provide services to more than 5,000 parents and children each year, 50% of whom are under age 18. Of Compass 80+ staff members, 57% are people of color, 73% are women, and more than 20% have been homeless and bring firsthand knowledge to their work with clients.